A. Lange & Söhne

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Part 3: the new Saxonia collection

We don't have to be wrong: the Saxonia collection is a key issue for Lange. Franckly speaking, we had the feeling that Lange was looking for the right solution for its entry level during the last years: end of the first 1815 collection, end of the first Saxonia one, come back of both but with bigger gap between them and now, the third Saxonia collection.

It is not a pure change of design, this new ambition about the entry level is supported by 3 calibers including a new complication.

Let's start by this one; the Saxonia Dual Time.

You will see by reading all the SIHH reports that there were 2 trends in the show and I believe we will get the same ones at Basel: the travel watches (worldtimer or dual time) and the thin watches.

The Saxonia Dual Time has the objective to propose an offer in the context of the travel watches which is more simple and more affordable than the Lange 1 Timezone. Moreover, the caliber of this Saxonia is automatic which is may time prefered by the clients to a handwind one (I don't speak about the collectors but I would say the large audience).

The Saxonia dual Time is for me a true business watch: its dial is very clean, the watch is readable and the second time zone (displayed with e 24 hours sub dial) is easy to operate thanks to the pushers on the left side of the case.

Automatic caliber L086.2 has a 3 hz frequency and a power reserve of 72 hours. That's an interesting point. You can leave the watch the whole week end and take it back on Monday morning and it will be still running. This point enhances its "business oriented" style.

The watch is fine but... a bit boring for my taste. There is nothing wrong with it except maybe that I would have prefered a 3/4 plate rather than a central rotor. But the watch lacks the magic touch which makes it great.

The Saxonia Dual Time is available with WG and PG cases.

The WG and PG Saxonia Dual Time:






















My feelings in a sentence: a business watch, very clean and somehow a bit boring.

Saxonia and Saxonia Automatic:

These two watches have a more classic size (37mm for the handwind version and 38,5mm for the automatic one). They share in common some changes applied to the previous Saxonia collection:
- a presence of a very shy continuous minutes scale on the dial which gives a nice touch
- a crown which was redesigned to be easier to handle
- the automatic has now a small second hand in coherence with the big hands.
- the lugs are more curvy to increase the comfort of the watches

Obviously the changes between the handwind Saxonia and the ref. 215.021, 215.026 and 215.032 are small (we can add that the double indexes is now only used at 12 o'clock) but they really improve the watch.

The handwind caliber is still the brave old  L941.1, one of my fav Lange calibers while the Automatic Saxonia gets the L086.1 and its 3 days of power reserve.

My feelings in a sentence: very nice and elegant watches. Even if there is no longer a Saxonia with a big date, these two watches are flawless and are dedicated to the people who are afraid of larger cases.

The handwind Saxonia is available with PG, WG and YG cases while the Automatic version is available with PG and WG cases.

The PG and WG Automatic Saxonia:



















The 3 versions of the handwind Saxonia:




















Saxonia Thin:

This is my fav of the new Saxonia collection.

First of all, despite its very classic style, it is a new design coming from Lange: the watch is very pure and the large case (40mm) works very well in this context. There is something special which happens with it: I don't know if it's due to the indexes (please note that there isn't any minute indexes) or to the absence of the small seconds or the perfect case design but I found this watch beautiful.  

The new caliber L093.1 is a handwind one with a 3hz frequency and 3 days of power reserve. Even if it is a bit too small for the case, there is no problem here as there is no small seconds display. The height of the case is 5,9mm which gives a very slender style to the watch. Like for the Saxonia Automatic or the Saxonia Dual Time, thanks to its power reserve, we can leave the watch the week-end and take it back without needing to set the time again. But with such elegant watch, who wants to leave it during 2 or 3 days ?

The Saxonia Thin is available only with a PG case.

The PG Saxonia Thin:














My feelings in a sentence: Lange redefines the two-hands watch with this Saxonia and creates a timeless beauty. My fav of the Saxonia collection.

With this Saxonia Thin, I put an end to my report. I just wish to add that Lange redesigned a bit its ladies watches with the use of guilloché dials instead of the MOP ones for the small handwind watches.

I would like to thank a lot the whole Lange team for the perfect welcome, for the time they spend with me and for their kindness. It is always a pleasure to visit the Lange booth at the SIHH.

Fr.Xavier